Capsule filling machine for filling a capsule and method for operating a capsule filling machine

Abstract

Capsule filling machine (10) for filling a capsule (12) which has two capsule parts, namely a capsule top (14) and a capsule bottom (16), comprising: - a conveying device (32) which has a capsule top holder (44) for receiving a capsule top (14) and a capsule bottom holder (46) for receiving a capsule bottom (16), wherein the capsule top holder (44) and the capsule bottom holder (46) can be arranged in alignment with each other along a joining axis (26), wherein the conveying device (32) can be driven movably within a conveying area (42) by means of a conveying drive (36), - at least one filling station (82) for filling the capsule bottom (16) with a filling material, and - at least one station (86) for closing a filled capsule bottom (16) with a capsule top (14) and for transporting a filled and fully joined capsule (12),wherein the station (86) comprises a closing element (90) movable along the joining axis (26) and driven by a closing drive (94), which interacts with a bottom surface (132) of the filled capsule lower part (16), and a counterholder (98) which interacts with a top surface (130) of the capsule upper part (14), characterized in that the counterholder (98) can be arranged or is arranged in a stop area (104) at least for a final part of a joining path (27) between the filled capsule lower part (16) and the capsule upper part (14), which, viewed along the joining axis (26), is spaced apart from the conveying area (42) by means of an intermediate discharge area (108), wherein a discharge sleeve (106) is arranged in the discharge area (108), which fixes the filled and fully joined capsule (12) outside the conveying area (42) and removed.

Description

The invention relates to a capsule filling machine having the features of the preamble of claim 1.Capsule filling machines of the type mentioned at the beginning are known from DE 28 30 849 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,534,526 A. U.S. Pat. No. 3,527,015 A discloses a further capsule filling machine.Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to specify an alternative capsule filling machine.The invention achieves this object in that the counterholder can be or is arranged at least for a final part of the joining path between the filled capsule lower part and the capsule upper part in a stop region which, as viewed along the joining axis, is spaced apart from the conveying region with the interposition of a removal region, wherein a removal sleeve is arranged in the removal region, said removal sleeve fixing and removing the filled and completely joined capsule outside the conveying region.By spacing the stop region from the conveying region, it is possible to use this intermediate space as a removal region and to provide in particular the removal sleeve in the removal region.The arrangement of the counterholder in the stop region is also associated with a displacement of the final joining path from the conveying region (as practiced in the prior art) into the removal region. Since the filled and completely joined capsule can be fixed in the removal sleeve, this enables removal of the filled and completely joined capsule in direct connection to the final part of the joining path and in particular without a further movement of the closing element and / or of the counterholder.In a preferred embodiment, a height of the removal region measured between the conveying region and the stop region corresponds at least to the length of a filled and completely joined capsule. This ensures that the entire completely joined capsule can be accommodated in the removal region and a particularly secure removal of the capsule from the removal region is possible. In particular, damage to the capsule (for example due to grinding of the capsule along a surface delimiting the conveying region) is prevented.It is further preferred that the counterholder is movable along the joining axis and acts on the upper side of the upper capsule part in the conveying region and / or in the removal region. At the beginning of the joining of the capsule parts, i.e. during the initial insertion of the capsule lower part into the capsule upper part, there is the risk that the capsule upper part is displaced in an uncontrolled manner by the capsule lower part and as a result, for example, tilts the capsule lower part with or in the capsule upper part. As a result of the movement of the counterholder into the conveying region and / or evacuation region, the upper capsule part is already subjected in the conveying region and / or evacuation region by the counterholder to a force which is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the closing element and ensures the correct insertion of the lower capsule part into the upper capsule part.During the joining process, the upper capsule part is acted upon by a force by means of the counter-surface of the counterholder, which force is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the closing element.Particularly preferably, the counterholder arranged in the conveying region or the removal region can be brought into the stop region by a movement of the closing element, which is transmitted via the capsule parts to the counterholder. This is accompanied by a potential simplification of the movement control of the counter holder. In the simplest case, it is sufficient to control a possibly desired movement of the counterholder only for one direction of movement out of the stop region and into the removal region or the conveying region. By contrast, a return of the counterholder in the reverse movement direction back into the stop region can be passive and controlled via the closing element.It is further preferred that the counterholder exerts a force on the upper side of the capsule upper part which is opposite to the direction of movement of the closing element. This force assists the joining process of the upper capsule part to the lower capsule part.Furthermore, it is preferred that the closing drive is configured such that the closing element moves without interruption and stoppage along the joining axis starting from an initial contact with the underside of the filled capsule lower part until the end of the final part of the joining path. This enables simplified movement control of the closing element, since only an initial position and an end position of the closing element along the joining axis have to be defined. In addition, the uninterrupted and stop-free movement shortens the time required for joining the capsule parts.Particularly preferably, the capsule upper part receptacle has a holding region for receiving and holding the capsule upper part and a guide region facing the capsule lower part receptacle for receiving and guiding the capsule lower part. The holding region ensures a secure and reproducible positioning of the upper capsule part in the upper capsule part receptacle. The guide region serves for guiding and aligning the capsule lower part relative to the capsule upper part during the movement of the capsule lower part along the joining axis. By laterally supporting the capsule lower part in the guide region, tilting of the capsule lower part relative to the joining axis is prevented in particular.In particular, it is preferred that the holding region of the capsule upper part receptacle is bounded by an annular projection, by means of which an annular boundary of the capsule upper part is supportable or supported. The annular projection represents a simple possibility of arranging the capsule upper part in particular with the aid of gravity and at a well-defined and reproducible position within the holding region.Furthermore, it is preferred that the length of the guide region of the capsule upper part receptacle corresponds to at least 30% of the length of the capsule lower part, preferably at least 70% of the length of the capsule lower part, in particular at least 100% of the length of the capsule lower part, as seen along the joining axis. A longer guide region is associated with an improved guidance of the capsule lower part, since a larger proportion of the capsule lower part can be accommodated and guided in the guide region.A preferred embodiment provides that the capsule upper part receptacle has a slotted wall. Since the volume enclosed by the capsule parts decreases during the joining of the capsule parts, an overpressure can form in the interior of the capsule. As a result, the (in particular gaseous) medium contained in the capsule is displaced from the capsule and is jammed in the upper capsule part receptacle, as a result of which an overpressure can form in the upper capsule part receptacle. The slotted wall ensures the outflow of the displaced medium from the upper capsule part receptacle and thus prevents, in particular, unintentional displacement and / or ejection of the upper capsule part caused by the overpressure.Particularly preferably, the capsule upper part receptacle and the capsule lower part receptacle are each designed as format parts which can be inserted into the conveying device. The dimensions of the capsule upper part receptacle and of the capsule lower part receptacle are matched in particular to a specific capsule size. The format parts which can be used allow a simple and rapid change between different capsule sizes.In particular, it is preferred that the conveying device is disk-shaped and that the conveying drive drives the conveying device about a conveying device rotation axis. This ensures a particularly space-saving and efficient construction of the capsule filling machine.Furthermore, it is preferred that the removal sleeve is part of a removal device, which is designed in particular as a sorting device. This enables the completely joined capsule to be transported away from the transport-away region directly following the joining of the capsule parts. If the removal device is designed as a sorting device, incorrectly filled and / or joined capsules can be removed from the production sequence in a simple manner (good / bad sorting).In a preferred embodiment, the evacuation device has a transport element and a transport drive which drives the transport element about a transport element axis arranged offset with respect to the conveying device. In particular, the evacuation sleeve is part of the transport element, whereby a space-saving and efficient construction of the evacuation device is made possible. By means of the transport drive, it is possible to adapt the movement of the transport element about the transport element axis to the movement of the conveying device about the conveying device rotation axis.The object mentioned at the beginning is also achieved by a method for operating a capsule filling machine, which comprises the features of the subordinate method claim.Advantages and embodiments of the method according to the invention are explained above with reference to advantages and embodiments of the capsule filling machine according to the invention; therefore, reference is made to the above description.Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject matter of the following description and of the graphical representation of a preferred embodiment.The drawing showsFIG. 1 a shows a front view of a capsule with a capsule upper part and a capsule lower part in an joined state; FIG. 1 bshows a representation corresponding to FIG. 1 aof the capsule in a completely joined state; FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of a capsule filling machine; FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a conveying device of the capsule filling machine according to FIG. 2 ; FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the conveying device along a part of a sectional plane denoted by IV in FIG. 3 ; FIG. 5 shows a sectional, perspective view of the conveying device and of a metering device with a load cell along a sectional plane denoted by V - V in FIG. 2 ; FIG. 6 is a perspective view, corresponding to a viewing direction denoted by VI in FIG. 2, of a station of the capsule filling machine according to FIG. 2 for closing and transporting away a capsule; FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the station according to FIG. 6 along a sectional plane denoted by VII-VII in FIG. 2 ; and FIGS. 8 to 16 show an enlarged illustration of a detail denoted by VIII in FIG. 7 during successive phases of the closing and the removal of a capsule.The directions "(upward)" and "(downward)" are defined relative to the gravity direction.An embodiment of a capsule filling machine 10 denoted overall by the reference sign 10 serves for filling and closing capsules 12, preferably hard capsules, in particular gelatin capsules.FIGS. 1 aand 1 b show, by way of example, a capsule 12 in an unmated and in a completely bonded state. The capsule 12 comprises a rotationally symmetrical capsule upper part 14 and a rotationally symmetrical capsule lower part 16. an inner diameter 18 of the capsule upper part 14 is slightly larger than an outer diameter 20 of the capsule lower part 16. The lower capsule part has a circular boundary 24 facing the upper capsule part.In an initial state and at the beginning of a joining process, the upper capsule part 14 and the lower capsule part 16 are arranged in such a way that the respective borders 22 and 24 are arranged at the same height along a joining axis 26. In order to close the capsule 12, the lower capsule part can be pushed into the upper capsule part along the joining axis, wherein the distance from the initial state to the complete joining of the capsule 12 is referred to as the joining path 27. A length 28 of the completely joined capsule 12 extends parallel to the joining axis 26.The capsule filling machine 10 comprises a horizontal working surface 30, on which a conveying device 32 and a plurality of work stations 80, 82, 86 are arranged. The conveying device 32 is disk-shaped and can be driven rotatably about a conveying device rotation axis 34, wherein a conveying drive 36 for driving the conveying device 32 is arranged below the work surface 30. The conveying device 32 has receptacles 40 arranged regularly along its boundary 38 for receiving the capsules 12 or the capsule parts 14, 16. The conveying device 32 transports the capsules 12 or the capsule parts 14, 16 between the work stations 80, 82, 86, wherein a conveying region 42 of the conveying device 32 is defined by a space in which the capsules 12 or capsule parts 14, 16 move during transport by means of the conveying device 32.The receptacles 40 for receiving the capsules 12 are formed by separate upper capsule receptacles 44 and lower capsule receptacles 46 which can be inserted into the conveying device 32, cf. FIG. 3. The capsule lower part receiving carrier 48 is guided in a control cam 50 which runs eccentrically with respect to the conveying device rotation axis 34 and in this way is displaceable radially outwards and radially inwards during a rotational movement of the conveying device 32. This makes it possible to free the capsule lower part receptacle 46 together with the capsule lower part 16 radially outwards with respect to the capsule upper part receptacle 44 or the capsule upper part 14.A holding region 54 is defined along a longitudinal axis 52 of the capsule upper part receptacle 44, cf. FIG. 4. the holding region 54 is bounded by an upper side 56 of the conveying device 32 and an inner annular protrusion 58. An upper capsule part 14 accommodated in the holding region 54 is supported with its boundary 22 on the projection 58 and can thereby be held in the upper capsule part receptacle 44. The holding region 54 adjoins a guide region 60 in the direction of the capsule lower part receiving carrier 48 which extends starting from the annular projection 58 as far as a lower end 62 of the capsule upper part receiving means 44. An inner diameter 64 of the guide region 60 is matched to the outer diameter 20 of the capsule lower part 16 and is preferably slightly larger.The holding region 54 and / or the guide region 60 preferably have a slotted wall 66. In addition, the capsule upper part receptacle 44 has an opening 68 at the lower end 62.The capsule lower part receptacle 46 has a receptacle space 70 for receiving the capsule lower part 16. The capsule lower part 16 is supported on a tapered end 72 of the accommodating space 70 and held in the accommodating space 70. At the tapering end 72, the capsule lower part receptacle and the capsule lower part receptacle carrier each have an opening 74, 76.In a state of the capsule lower part receptacle carrier 48 fully inserted radially inward, the longitudinal axis 52 of the capsule upper part receptacle 44 and a longitudinal axis 78 of the capsule lower part receptacle 46 are aligned with one another.The capsules 12 stored in the supply are supplied by means of a supply station 80 to the receptacles 40 of the conveying device 32, cf. FIG. 2. The capsules 12 are oriented-in a manner known per se-in the feed station 80 in such a way that the capsule lower part 16 points in the direction of the conveying region 42 and the joining axis 26 of the capsule 12 is aligned with the longitudinal axes 52, 72 of the capsule upper part receptacle 44 and the capsule lower part receptacle 46. In an initial state, the accommodated (pushed into one another, but not completely joined) capsule 12 is held in the holding region 54 of the upper capsule part accommodation 44. The capsule parts 14, 16 are then separated from one another in a manner known per se, for example by means of reduced pressure, such that the capsule upper part 14 remains in the capsule upper part receptacle 44 and the capsule lower part 16 is received in the capsule lower part receptacle 46.By rotating the conveying device 32 about the conveying device rotation axis 34, the capsule parts 14, 16 are transported to a filling station 82. During transport, the capsule bottom part receiving carrier 48 is displaced radially outwards and thus the capsule bottom part 16 is released, whereby filling of the capsule bottom part 16 with a filling material is possible by a dosing device 83, cf. FIG. 5.The filling station 82 may include a load cell 84. By lowering the conveying device 32, using a lifting / lowering drive, not shown, along the conveying device rotation axis 34, the capsule lower part receptacle 46 can be placed on the load cell 84 and can be released with respect to the capsule lower part receptacle carrier 48. This ensures accurate control and monitoring of the filling of the capsule lower part 16 with the filling material. It is possible for the capsule filling machine 10 to comprise a plurality of filling stations 82 and / or metering devices 83 and / or load cells 84. After the lower capsule part 16 has been filled, the capsule parts 14, 16 are transported by a rotation of the conveying device 32 to a station 86 for closing and for removal, cf. FIG. 2, During the transport, the lower capsule part receiving carrier 48 is moved back into its starting position pushed in radially inward by means of the control cam 50.The station 86 for closing and for transporting away comprises a closing device 88 with a closing element 90 arranged below the conveying device 32, cf. FIGS. 6 and 7. The closing element 90 can be driven by means of a closing drive 94. The closing element is movable along a closing axis 96 and parallel to the longitudinal axes 52, 72 of the upper capsule part receptacle 44 and the lower capsule part receptacle 46, namely between a starting position in which the closing surface 92 is arranged below the conveying region 42 of the conveying device 32 and actuating positions in which the closing surface 92 is arranged inside and / or above the conveying region 42.The closing device 88 further comprises a counterholder 98 arranged above the conveying device 32, which counterholder is for example of stamp-shaped design and has a countersurface 100 at a free end. The counterholder 98 can be driven by means of a counterholder drive 102 along the longitudinal axes 52, 72 of the upper capsule part receptacle 44 and the lower capsule part receptacle 46. In an initial state, the counter surface 100 of the counterholder 98 is arranged in a stop region 104 of the closing device 88. The stop region 104 is arranged above the conveying region 42 and at a distance therefrom.For transporting away a completely joined capsule 12, a transport-away sleeve 106 is provided. The evacuation sleeve 106 can receive and hold a completely joined capsule 12. The removal sleeve 106 is arranged in particular in a removal region 108 which is bounded downwards by the conveying region 42 and upwards by the stop region 104. A height 109 of the removal region 108 preferably corresponds to the length 28 of a filled and completely joined capsule 12.The removal sleeve 106 is part of a transport element 110 of a removal device 112, cf. FIG. 6, the transport element 110 can be driven by a transport drive 114 about a transport element axis 116, as a result of which a completely joined capsule 12 held in the removal sleeve 106 can be removed from the removal region 108.The removal device 112 preferably comprises a first ejection station 118 and a second ejection station 120 with respective ejection elements 122, whereby the removal device 112 can be used as a (good / bad) sorting device. A capsule 12 accommodated in the removal sleeve 106 can be transported by the transport element 110 to the respective ejection stations 118, 120. A correctly filled and joined capsule 12 is removed from the removal sleeve 106 by the ejection element 122 at the first ejection station 118; a non-correctly filled and / or joined capsule 12 at the second ejection station 120.FIGS. 8 to 16 show successive phases of the closing and the removal of a capsule 12.In an initial state (compare FIG. 8 ), a receptacle 40 of the conveying device 32 is arranged in the station 86 for closing and for transporting away, wherein an upper capsule part 14 is arranged in the upper capsule part receptacle 44 and a lower capsule part 16 filled with filling material is arranged in the lower capsule part receptacle 46.Starting from this starting state, the conveying device 32 is lowered parallel to the conveying device rotation axis 34 using the lifting / lowering drive (compare FIG. 9, starting from FIG. 8 ). By lowering the conveying device 32, the capsule lower part receptacle 46 is placed on a placing element 124 of the station 86 and is displaced upwards with respect to the capsule lower part receptacle carrier 48. In this case, a positive contact occurs between an upper side 126 of the capsule lower part receptacle 46 and an underside 128 of the capsule upper part receptacle 44, which preferably is associated with a mutual centering.The closing surface 92 of the closing element 90 is arranged spaced apart from the capsule lower part 16 in a starting position. In a next step, the counterholder 98 is lowered downward out of the stop region 104, such that the counterholder 98 passes through the removal sleeve 106 arranged in the removal region 108 (compare FIG. 10 ). The movement of the counterholder 98 is stopped when the counterholder 98 contacts an upper side 130 of the capsule upper part 14 with its countersurface 100.The capsule lower part 16 is then moved in the direction of the capsule upper part 14 by a movement of the closing element 90, wherein the closing surface 92 contacts an underside 132 of the capsule lower part 16 (compare FIG. 11 ). The capsule lower part 16 penetrates into the guide region 60 of the capsule upper part receptacle 44 and is guided in the guide region 60. If the capsule lower part 16 reaches the holding region 54, the borders 22, 24 of the capsule parts 14, 16 are arranged at the same height. Starting from this, the actual joining process begins, in which the capsule lower part 16 is inserted into the capsule upper part 14 along the joining path 27. During the joining process, the capsule upper part 14 is acted upon by a force by means of the counter surface 100 of the counterholder 98, which force is directed in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the closing element 90.The force exerted by the counterholder 98 on the capsule upper part 14 can be adjusted independently of the position of the counterholder 98 and in particular be constant, for example by action of a weight force of the counterholder 98 and / or by application of a constant drive force to the counterholder 98, which is generated, for example, pneumatically. A pressure limiting valve may be used to equalize such driving force.At the beginning of the joining process, the counterholder 98 is moved upwards again (in particular passively) in the direction of the stop region 104, while the closing element 90 continues its movement upwards (compare FIG. 12 ). The counterholder 98 and the closing element 90 remain in contact with the respective capsule parts 14, 16 during their respective movements, as a result of which the now introduced capsule 12 is likewise moved upwards and reaches the removal region 108 or the removal sleeve 106.The movement of the counterholder 98 ends when the counterholder 98 is arranged in the stop region 104 again in its starting position (compare FIG. 13 ). While the counterholder 98 is already arranged in the stop region 104 again and is stationary, the closing element 90 moves further upwards, so that for a final part of the joining path 27 the capsule lower part 16 is pushed into the capsule upper part 14 until the capsule 12 is completely joined and closed.The completely joined capsule 12 is held in the removal sleeve 106 (compare FIG. 14 ). Subsequently, the closing element 90 is moved back out of the conveying region 42 into its starting position (compare FIG. 14 proceeding from FIG. 13 ).Starting from the state according to FIG. 14, the conveying device 32 is raised parallel to the conveying device rotation axis 34 (compare FIG. 15, starting from FIG. 14 ).By a subsequent rotation of the transport element 110, the capsule 12 held in the removal sleeve 106 is moved out of the removal region 108 and transported further, cf. FIG. 16, now without capsule 12 and FIG. 6.As an alternative to the method described above, it is also possible for the counterholder 98 to remain in its position in the stop region 104 and for the countersurface 100 of the counterholder 98 to contact the capsule upper part 14 only for the final part of the joining path 27. The final part of the joining process also takes place in this case only in the removal sleeve 106 or in the removal region 108.

Claims

Capsule filling machine (10) for filling a capsule (12), which has two capsule parts, namely a capsule upper part (14) and a capsule lower part (16), comprising: - a conveying device (32), which has a capsule upper part receptacle (44) for receiving a capsule upper part (14) and a capsule lower part receptacle (46) for receiving a capsule lower part (16), wherein the capsule upper part receptacle (44) and the capsule lower part receptacle (46) can be arranged aligned with one another along a joining axis (26), wherein the conveying device (32) can be driven movably within a conveying region (42) by means of a conveying drive (36), - at least one filling station (82) for filling the capsule lower part (16) with a filling material, and - at least one station (86) for closing a filled capsule lower part (16) with a capsule upper part (14) and for transporting away a filled and completely joined capsule (12), wherein the station (86) comprises a closing element (90), which is movable along the joining axis (26) and driven by means of a closing drive (94) and interacts with an underside (132) of the filled capsule lower part (16), and a counterholder (98), which interacts with an upper side (130) of the capsule upper part (14), characterized in that the counterholder (98) is or can be arranged in a stop region (104) at least for a final part of a joining path (27) between the filled capsule lower part (16) and the capsule upper part (14), the transport sleeve, viewed along the joining axis (26), is spaced apart from the conveying region (42) with an intermediate transport-away region (108), wherein a transport-away sleeve (106) is arranged in the transport-away region (108), which fixes and transports away the filled and completely joined capsule (12) outside the conveying region (42).Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a height (109) of the removal region (108), measured between the conveying region (42) and the stop region (104), corresponds at least to the length (28) of a filled and completely joined capsule (12).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counterholder (98) is movable along the joining axis (26) and acts on the upper side (130) of the upper capsule part (14) in the conveying region (42) and / or in the removal region (108).Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the counterholder (98) arranged in the conveying region (42) or the removal region (108) can be brought into the stop region (104) by a movement of the closing element (90) which is transmitted via the capsule parts (14, 16) to the counterholder (98).Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the counterholder (98) exerts a force on the upper side (130) of the capsule upper part (14) which is opposite the direction of movement of the closing element (90).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing drive (94) is configured such that the closing element (90) moves without interruption and stoppage along the joining axis (26) starting from an initial contact with the underside (132) of the filled capsule lower part (16) until the end of the final part of the joining path (27) is concluded.Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule upper part receptacle (44) has a holding region (54) for receiving and holding the capsule upper part (14) and a guide region (60), facing the capsule lower part receptacle (46), for receiving and guiding the capsule lower part (16).Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 7, characterized in that the holding region (54) of the capsule upper part receptacle (44) is bounded by an annular projection (58), by means of which an annular boundary (22) of the capsule upper part (14) is supportable or supported.Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the length of the guide region of the capsule upper part receptacle (44), as seen along the joining axis (26), corresponds to at least 30% of the length of the capsule lower part (16), preferably at least 70% of the length of the capsule lower part (16), in particular at least 100% of the length of the capsule lower part (16).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the capsule upper part receptacle (44) has a slotted wall (66).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper capsule part receptacle (44) and the lower capsule part receptacle (46) are each designed as format parts which can be inserted into the conveying device (32).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying device (32) is of disc-shaped design and in that the conveying drive (36) drives the conveying device (32) about a conveying device rotation axis (34).Capsule filling machine (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removal sleeve (106) is part of a removal device (112), which is designed in particular as a sorting device.Capsule filling machine (10) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the removal device (112) has a transport element (110) and a transport drive (114), which drives the transport element (110) about a transport element axis (116) arranged offset with respect to the conveying device (32).Method for operating a capsule filling machine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the conveying device (32) displaces the capsule upper part (14) and the filled capsule lower part (16) into the station (86) for closing and for transporting away, - the closing element (90) is moved along the joining axis (26) and acts on the underside (132) of the capsule lower part (16), - the capsule lower part (16) is inserted into the capsule upper part (14) along a first part of the joining path (27), - the capsule parts (14, 16) are further joined together along a second part of the joining path (27) following the first part of the joining path (27) and are simultaneously moved into the transporting away region (108), and - the capsule parts (14, 14, 16) are moved into the transporting away region, 16) are joined to one another during the contact of the upper side (130) of the capsule upper part (14) on the counterholder (98) arranged in the stop region (104) via the final part of the joining path (27).

Images